I am sooooooooooooooo sorry for the wait guys! The good news is I plan on finishing this book by Halloween seeing that there's only about three chapters left (maybe 2 or 4).
Sorry if it looks like it's just a running mess of words. I had some trouble with this crazy chapter.
So I've been thinking about the title for the next story and I've narrowed it down to three choices: Alexis Lestrange and the TriWizard Tournament, Alexis Lestrange and the TriWizard Champions (this one was given to me by pheonixfelicis07) or Alexis Lestrange and the Tasks Three (another pheonixfelicis07 original).
And now, enjoy!
3 Chapter 21: After Exams
The joy and excitement of winning the Quidditch Cup lasted well into the next week. Everywhere the Gryffindor team went they were greeted by praises. The only people that didn't seem happy about their win was the Slytherin house but none of them dared express their disapproval in front of Alexis. It would seem her crazed nature in the game had put a righteous amount of fear towards her in their hearts. The only problem Alexis was having now was the amount of whispering the Slytherins were doing behind her back had increased.
But Alexis had no time to linger on the Slytherins' actions. Exams and, more importantly, O.W.L.s were quickly approaching. Everyone, including the Fred and George, seemed to be studying in hopes of scoring decent scores on their exams.
Alexis found herself spending all her free time in the library studying. Everyday, before breakfast, she, Fred, and Hermione would study Transfiguration; after third period, Cedric would quiz her on Potions; the last ten minutes of lunch were spent memorizing plant charts with George; her free period was spent with both twins working of Defense; and the last few hours before bed, Alexis used to help Harry and Ron with their studying as well as working on her Charms. Even her Saturdays spent with Draco were turned into study sessions.
However, when the exams finally rolled around the corner, Alexis would be lying if she said all her studying had been for not. She was sure she had passed all her exams and O.W.L.s with O's, most definitely her Defense Against the Dark Arts. Remus had practically announced to everyone she had earned the highest score on her O.W.L.
"A perfect score, Alexis," he said with a proud smile. "Both your written and practical exams were perfects. Well done! There hasn't been a perfect score since Tri- since over twenty years ago."
"Thanks Remus," said Alexis. She couldn't help but to be proud herself.
'That's my girl,' praised McPherson, making Alexis grin a little wider.
Remus began packing his things in his shabby suitcase. He was whistling softly to himself as if the fact that the next full moon was this weekend was the last thing on his mind.
"Who was the last to score a perfect?" Alexis asked.
Remus froze momentarily. He looked up at Alexis quickly before looking at anything other then her. Clearing his throat, he said, "Bellatrix. Bellatrix Black. She was a natural when it came to the subject."
"Defense magic," supplied Alexis.
"And dark arts," Remus added grimly. He cleared his throat again. "She was, she is Sirius Black's older cousin."
"Oh," said Alexis. She quickly realized what a delicate topic they were discussing. "Well, that's... Nice."
Remus chuckled softly.
"Yes, quite nice. Don't you have a class to get to?"
"Kicking me out?" Alexis teased. Remus swatted her arm with shabby hat, both he and Alexis smiling. Alexis had really grown to enjoy teasing the man, a feeling Remus felt equally when it came to teasing her. "Suppose I should leave you alone, old man."
Remus swatted Alexis's head this time.
"Old, am I?"
Alexis grinned nodding her head yes. She stuck out her tongue for good measure.
Remus snorted, "I suppose I am an old man when compared to your childish antics."
"Hey!"
"Don't dish what you can't take," said Remus with a playful smile. Alexis swore she had heard McPherson say those exact same words to her all through her childhood.
"Yes mom," Alexis sassed. She was halfway out the door when she turned around. "Take care of yourself tonight, Remus."
"As you wish," Remus said humbly, knowing exactly what Alexis was talking about. With that, Alexis departed in silence.
.
Finally, Alexis reached her last O.W.L. exam: Potions.
"It'll be fun, Hex!" exclaimed Peeves as he swam around Alexis in the hall. "You'll pass easily!"
"Thanks, Peeves," said Alexis but she was still nervous. She had never failed at making a potion with or without Cedric's help. In fact, she was sure she could make whatever potion they assigned blindfolded with one hand and no directions. The problem was only half the exam was making the potion while the other half was writing about a different potion.
"What is its a potion I don't know?" Alexis said aloud as they descended the stairs to the dungeon. "What if they ask me how the book tells us to make it and not the best way? What if-"
"You're not afraid, are you, Hex?"
Alexis stopped dead in her tracks just outside the Potion Classroom. She turned to her poltergeist friend with a determined shine in her green eyes.
"I'm not allowed to be afraid," she said bluntly.
Peeves grinned a grin that quite literally took up his whole face. He leaned towards Alexis to where their foreheads were touching before saying, "Then don't be," followed by a loud raspberry and a crackle. Then the poltergeist disappeared into the ceiling of the hall.
Wiping the poltergeist saliva of her forehead, Alexis smiled.
'Gonna Ace it,' she thought to herself.
'I'd prefer it if you O'd it,' chuckled McPherson. 'A's are only acceptable.'
Alexis rolled her eyes before entering the classroom. She only just caught sight of Cedric, who sent her a assuring smile, before she was ordered to take her seat. Only moments later, the test were handed out and a massive smile slowly crept up on Alexis's face. The written topic on the exam was how to make and the uses of a Polyjuice Potion.
.
"Why are you smiling?" asked Cedric as he and Alexis departed the Potions Classroom hours later. "You do know we just took our Potion O.W.L., right?"
"It was on Polyjuice Potion, Cedric," sang Alexis. The look the Hufflepuff gave her told her to clarify. "This summer, at Mad-Eye's, I had a lot of free time. Like- A LOT. So I read up on some potions Hermione made last year."
"Oh," said Cedric, nodding his head understandably before looking at Alexis in surprise. "Wait- Hermione made a Poly-"
"Of course not, Ced," said Alexis with a coy smile. "Don't be ridiculous. That would be breaking school rules and Hermione would never do that... Unless she found it necessary."
Cedric gave Alexis a look that warned her he was about to demand an explanation but before he could two identical red heads swept in to save the day.
"Hello, darling," sang George teasingly. He nodded curtly to Cedric. "Pretty boy."
"Thing two," Cedric retorted.
"Right," said Fred. "I'm going to ignore that because that at least makes me thing one. We're here to steal Alexis away."
"Without you permission preferably," added George.
Alexis rolled her eyes.
"I'll talk to you at dinner, okay Cedric?"
Cedric nodded his head in agreement before strolling off. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be the case for after the twins told Alexis that Harry had gotten the Marauder Map taken up by Remus, Alexis marched over to the Divination Tower to yell at her best friend. She had just seen his shaggy head disappear up the trapdoor when she arrived.
Ignoring Ron's protest telling her not to follow Harry up there, Alexis scaled the ladder with gusto, more then slightly peeved at her best friend.
"Ah, Alexis my child," sang Trelawney in her misty voice, "I knew you would be joining us. Your swain has only just begun his test. You may watch if you wish."
"My what?" said Alexis, forgetting she was angry at Harry for a moment.
"Your swain, child," repeated Trelawney. When Alexis's face stayed confused, she continued, "Your inamorato." No recognition. "Your cavalier." Alexis blinked. "Your paramour, your flame, your boyfr-"
Harry coughed violently. He had been turning a darker shade of red with every word Trelawney said. Alexis, however, still didn't get it.
"Can we begin, Professor?" Harry asked nervously.
"Of course, my dear," Trelawney said softly. It was as if whatever she had only just been talking about (whatever that was, Alexis wasn't sure), was completely trivial. "If you would kindly gaze into the Orb...Take your time, now...then tell me what you see within it..."
Alexis listened as Harry struggled through a false vision. When he became stuck, she couldn't help but to help him.
'Tell her it's a Hippogriff,' she thought.
"I see a Hippogriff," said Harry.
"Indeed!" whispered Trelawney, scribbling keenly on the parchment perched upon her knees. Alexis couldn't help but to grin proudly in the corner. "My boy, you may well be seeing the outcome of poor Hagrid's trouble with the Ministry of Magic! Look closer...Does the Hippogriff appear to...have its head?"
"Yes," said Harry firmly.
"Are you sure?" Trelawney urged him. "Are you quite sure, dear? You don't see it writhing on the ground, perhaps, and a shadowy figure raising an axe behind it?"
"No!" Harry shouted.
"Oh?" said Trelawney, clearly disappointed. "Anything else?"
"It's flying away," added Harry hesitantly.
Trelawney frowned.
'Tell her there's a mad man riding it,' said Alexis quickly.
"But there's a man..." Trelawney's looked up from her notes intrigued. "He has matted hair, and black eyes, and looks..." Harry paused for affect, "Mad. Crazy even. He's laughing at the full moon- howling... Like a wolf!"
"Fascinating," Trelawney whispered. "My boy, you have a gift. I think we'll leave it there. Well done."
Grinning, Harry rose to his feet and turned to Alexis. Just as he did, Alexis caught sight of Trelawney falling slack in her chair and then -
"IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT."
Harry jumped. Alexis hurried forward. Trelawney's eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body seized up.
"What's hap-"
"THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS. HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHAINED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT, BEFORE MIDNIGHT...THE SERVANT WILL BREAK FREE AND SET OUT TO REJOIN HIS MASTER. THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANT'S AID, GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS. TONIGHT...BEFORE MIDNIGHT...THE SERVANT...WILL SET OUT...TO REJOIN...HIS MASTER..."
And suddenly Trelawney head dropped onto the table. The two third years stared in complete bafflement. They were about to check her pulse when suddenly her head snapped up, her owl eyes large and alert.
"I'm sorry, my dears," Trelawney said dreamily, "I must have dosed off."
The two Gryffindors blinked.
"You said-"
"Bye professor," said Alexis, cutting Harry off. Without a second thought, she pulled her best friend down the ladder and spiral staircase.
"What was that?" asked Harry out of breath.
"I have know freaking clue!" said Alexis, equally out of breath. She suddenly felt a strange warmth in her chest pocket. Pulling whatever was in her pocket out, she was surprised to find the warm feeling was coming from a blank piece of parchment.
"Is that the-"
"Notepasser," answered Alexis.
The strange and slightly aged piece of paper Alexis had found magically attached to the bottom of the Common Room couch was warming her hands. Fred and George had been the ones to dub it the title of notepasser. Apparently there were four of them, one for each Marauder. Alexis had Padfoot's while the twins had Wormtail's but the last two, Prongs' and Moony's, had yet to be discovered.
None of that, however, explained why it was warm.
"I think, someone is using it," said Alexis. Then with a quiet voice she said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Words that had not been there before suddenly appeared on the once blank paper. At the bottom read the newest of notes, a small message from Wormtail. It read:
It's Tails. Snagged notepasser from twins... Well Moony did... Don't know how... Anyway, meet us at the castle doors... We have cloak... Must see Hagrid... Buckbeak lost appeal... Hurry... Bring Prongs...
Without a second thought, the two best friends hurried the entrance hall. When they arrived it was completely deserted.
"In here," whispered a voice from behind the broom closet door. The door creaked open to reveal a bushy hair bookworm. "Hurry up."
Alexis and Harry quickly slipped inside the small room. Alexis spotted Ron standing behind Hermione holding the Invisibility Cloak. Without a word, the four friends squeezed under the Invisibility Cloak and made there way out the castle door.
'You think he's alright?' Alexis thought to everyone. She wasn't sure if talking was a good idea.
'I hope so,' thought Harry.
Hermione, who had jumped at first when she heard Harry's thoughts as well as Alexis's, added, 'I'm sure he is. He just needs...'
'A friend?' offered Ron.
'Right,' thought Hermione as they reached the half-giant's door. 'A friend.'
Harry knocked on the door. Hagrid answered it a minute later, and when he did, looking all around for his visitor, he looked extremely pale with puffy eyes.
"It's us," Harry hissed. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."
"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and the four friends stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly and Gryffindors pulled off the cloak.
Hagrid was not crying, nor did he throw himself upon their necks. He looked like a man who did not know where he was or what to do. This helplessness was worse to watch than tears. It was a look Alexis did not like at all and therefore hugged her friend tightly around the leg. Hagrid patted her back, completely unsure on what to do.
"Wan' some tea?" he said sadly.
"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" said Hermione hesitantly.
"I - I took him outside," said Hagrid, reaching for the kettle but dropped his hand as if it had offended him. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an' - an' smell fresh air - before -"
Alexis grabbed Hagrid's hand. It was at least for times as big as hers but Alexis ignored this fact. Wordlessly, she walked him over to his table and sat him down.
"I'll make the tea, Hagrid," said Hermione quickly, hurrying over to the kettle.
"Thanks," said Hagrid softly. He smiled gently at Alexis, who had yet to let go of his giant trembling hand, but his smile seemed forced.
"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked, sitting down next to him and Alexis. "Dumbledore -"
"He's tried," said Hagrid. "He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they're scared...Yeh know what their like...threatened by losin' money, I expect...an' the executioner, Macnair...but it'll be quick an' clean...an' I'll be beside him..."
Hagrid swallowed. His eyes were darting all over the cabin as though looking for some shred of hope or comfort. Harry took his other hand.
"Dumbledore's gonna come down while it - while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter - ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore..."
Hermione, who had been rummaging in Hagrid's cupboard for a milk jug, let out a small, quickly stifled sob. She straightened up with the jug in her hands, fighting back tears.
"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," she began, but Hagrid shook his shaggy head.
"Yeh're ter go back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yeh watchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway...If Fudge an' Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble."
Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but she hid them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. Then, as she picked up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she let out a shriek.
"Ron, I don't believe it - it's Scabbers!"
Ron gaped at her.
"What are you talking about?"
Hermione carried the milk jug over to the table and turned it upside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers the rat came sliding out onto the table.
"Scabbers!" said Ron blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doing here?"
He grabbed the struggling rat and held him up to the light. Scabbers looked dreadful. He was thinner than ever, large tufts of hair had fallen out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhed in Ron's hands as though desperate to free himself.
"It's okay, Scabbers!" said Ron. "No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!"
Hagrid suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed on the window. His normally ruddy face had gone the color of parchment.
"They're comin'..."
Alexis jumped to her feet. A group of men was walking down the distant castle steps. In front was Albus Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next to him trotted Cornelius Fudge. Behind them came, the executioner, Macnair, and surprisingly, Arthur Weasley.
"Is that your dad, Tails?" asked Alexis squinting out the window to make sure she was seeing things right.
Ron, however, didn't get a chance to answer.
"Yeh gotta go," said Hagrid. "They mustn' find yeh here...Go now..."
Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket and Hermione picked up the cloak. Alexis and Harry both gave Hagrid a quick hug. "I'll let yeh out the back way," said Hagrid.
They followed him to the door into his back garden. Alexis couldn't help but want to protest. She had a sudden desire to attack the executioner so he couldn't hurt Buckbeak but she pushed the thought away. The last thing she needed was another reason for Fudge to hate her.
"It's okay, Beaky," said Hagrid softly. "It's okay..." He turned to the four third years. "Go on," he said. "Get goin'."
But they didn't move.
"Hagrid, we can't -"
"We'll tell them what really happened -"
"They can't kill him -"
"Go!" said Hagrid fiercely. "It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!"
They had no choice. As Hermione threw the cloak over Alexis, Harry, and Ron, they heard voices at the front of the cabin. Hagrid looked at the place where they had just vanished from sight.
"Go quick," he said hoarsely. "Don' listen..."
And he strode back into his cabin as someone knocked at the front door.
Slowly, in a kind of horrified trance, the four set off silently towards the castle. They could hear as the front door closed with a loud snap.
"Please, let's hurry," Hermione whispered. "I can't stand it, I can't bear it..."
"It's okay," whispered Alexis but she didn't find any comfort in her own words.
They started up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun was sinking fast now; the sky had turned to a clear, purple-tinged gray, but to the west there was a ruby-red glow.
Ron stopped dead.
"Oh, please, Ron," Hermione began.
"It's Scabbers - he won't - stay put -"
Ron was bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat was going berserk; squeaking madly, twisting and flailing, trying to sink his teeth into Ron's hand.
"Scabbers, it's me, you idiot, it's Ron," Ron hissed.
They heard a door open behind them and men's voices.
"Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!" Hermione breathed.
"Okay - Scabbers, stay put -"
They walked forward; Harry, like Hermione, was trying not to listen to the rumble of voices behind them while Alexis couldn't help but to strain her ears. Then Ron stopped again.
"I can't hold him - Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us -"
The rat was squealing wildly, but not loudly enough to cover up the sounds drifting from Hagrid's garden. There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence, and then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an axe.
Hermione swayed on the spot.
"They did it!" she whispered to Alexis who's hand she grabbed. "I'd - don't believe it - they did it!"
Harry seemed to turn around to head back but Alexis grabbed him.
"We have to get back," Alexis said, her voice hoarse for some reason. "We can't."
Slowly, even more so then before, the four friends continued their trek back to the castle. The sun was nearly set when the made it halfway.
"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his chest. The rat was wriggling madly. Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's the matter with you, You stupid rat? Stay still - OUCH! He bit me!"
"Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered urgently. "Fudge'll be out here in a minute -"
A sharp meow filled the air, making three of the four heads snap up.
"Crookshanks!" hissed Hermione. "Go away!"
But Crookshanks didn't listen. Instead the cat drew closer.
"Scabbers!"
The rat jumped from Ron's hands and took off with Crookshanks on its tail. Ron threw off the Invisibility Cloak and took off after him as well.
"Tails!" hissed Alexis. She tossed off the Invisibility Cloak and took off after him.
There was a loud thud followed by Alexis tripping in the dark.
"Damn!" Alexis growled but she could make out the figure of Ron. He had Scabbers, who was still squirming like crazy, in his hands.
"Lumos!" Alexis whispered. A small orb of light lit up her left hand illuminating Ron's face. He looked pleased with himself for catching his pet but was holding his right side -no doubt from Alexis tripping over him. Quickly, he stuffed Scabbers into his pants pocket.
"Put the light out!" Harry shouted softly peaking his head out from underneath the cloak. Hermione and him were making there way over to them when suddenly a strange noise made them stop.
"Is that..."
"Pounding?"
Suddenly, Hermione let out a muffled scream as a giant black blur jumped through the sky. It was Grim and he was charging right towards-
"Tails!" Alexis screamed as Grim teeth dug deeply into Ron's leg. She moved to help her friend but the dog was faster, much faster, and began dragging Ron away.
"Stop, Grim!" Alexis and Harry cried but the dog made no recognition. He merely continued to drag the howling Ron away from them.
Alexis kept running after her friend when suddenly a new cry of pain filled the air. It had been Hermione. It appeared that Grim was dragging Ron to the trunk of the Whomping Willow which had struck her. Alexis was nearly struck herself as she watched Grim drag Ron through the roots of the tree. She didn't wait to think out a plan. The moment she had an opening, Alexis dove through the hole in the roots.
She landed with a loud oof, knocking the wind out of her. But Alexis didn't have time to waste. She sat up quickly and discovered she was inside a tunnel- a very eerie, long, and dark tunnel. This was just another fact Alexis ignored. She had a friend to save.
Immediately, Alexis began hurrying along the tunnel.
"What has gotten into you, Grim?" she whispered.
'Hex,' said McPherson, 'This is a trap. Don't go any farther.'
"I have to, Tom."
She stumbled on as quickly as she could, finding herself having to crouch a great deal. She knew she should have waited for Harry and Hermione but Alexis couldn't think straight. All she could think of was Ron being dragged away. It reminded her of her Boggart, the screaming, her friends calling out for her help...
"I'm almost there, Tails," Alexis whispered and she was right. Barely a second after she had said this did the tunnel make a sharp before revealing a room, a very disordered, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded up.
'The Shrieking Shack,' said McPherson.
Alexis merely nodded her head in acknowledgement. At that moment, there was a creak overhead. Something had moved upstairs. Alexis looked up at the ceiling.
"Got you," Alexis whisper. She quietly creeped up the crumbling staircase. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust except the floor, where a wide shiny stripe drizzled with blood had been made by something being dragged upstairs.
Only one door was on the upper floor. A soft light was coming from inside it, leaking out through the bottom cracks.
Taking a deep breath, Alexis pushed the door open.
Sitting on a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings lay, clutching his bleeding leg, was Ron.
Alexis didn't hesitate in running over to him.
"Ron!" she exclaimed, hugging her friend. "You're okay! But where's-"
The door to the room suddenly closed shut. Alexis turned around and froze. Standing before her for the umpteenth time was none other then Sirius Black.
Again, apologies for the long wait!
I promise this is not going to be one of those, two-seconds-with-Sirius moments! He'll be in the majority if not the whole of the next chapter! GO SIRIUSNESS!
Quick note though, did you know that Fred earned his Transfiguration OWL while George earned his Herbology OWL? I thought that was cool so I hinted at it with who Alexis was studying with and for what subject.
Anyway, onto the reviews...
mwinter1: here it is!
NeverBeyondRedemption: Ummmmm... Yes. Like I just did. I'm glad you can't wait. Yes. As for the Sirius calling Alexis Trix, that will be explained very, very soon.
iciclefangAJ: in good time my friend, in good time
caring16: well, she is from the states (warning: if anyone takes offense of this stereotype, I politely ask you to get over it... Wow, that sounded Canadian... Wait, should I have a warning about that stereotype too? Whatever, 'MURICA!)
HayleyGoth: Do you know how much I love you right now? Creepy Stalker level some might say because that was the best 100th review ever! Grim is a synonym for serious. Grim and Sirius! I nearly died I was laughing so hard! Have a cookie! In fact, have a trillion cookies! And when you run out of cookies, I'll make you a trillion more! You absolutely blew my mind! Haha, siriusly though, thank you!
pheonixfelicis07: as always, an amazing review! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
reallytrulyyours: I won't stop!
arabianice: I don't know, is he? Hmm? Is he? Guess you'll have to read to find out *evil laughter*
Ingrid: ... My b... New chapter make all better? Love you!
Alright guy's, this is important. Next chapter, there will be a major (depending on your definition of major of course) story change. It may even lead to some of you to stop reading my series (or not). But I've already decided on it so if you don't like it sorry but it's happening... Love you guys!
Please REVIEW! And don't forget to tell me which title you like!
DCF